We evaluate the protective effect of nitric oxide (NO) against Cadmium (Cd) toxicity in rice leaves. Cd toxicity of rice leaves was determined by the decrease of chlorophyll and protein contents. CdCl 2 treatment resulted in (1) increase in Cd content, (2) induction of Cd toxicity, (3) increase in H 2 O 2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, (4) decrease in reduced form glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (ASC) contents, and (5) increase in the specific activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and peroxidase). NO donors [N-tert-butyl--phenylnitrone, 3-morpholinosydonimine, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and ASC + NaNO 2 ] were effective in reducing CdCl 2 -induced toxicity and CdCl 2 -increased MDA content. SNP prevented CdCl 2 -induced increase in the contents of H 2 O 2 and MDA, decrease in the contents of GSH and ASC, and increase in the specific activities of antioxidant enzymes. SNP also prevented CdCl 2 -induced accumulation of NH 4 + , decrease in the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS), and increase in the specific activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). The protective effect of SNP on CdCl 2 -induced toxicity, CdCl 2 -increased H 2 O 2 , NH 4 + , and MDA contents, CdCl 2decreased GSH and ASC, CdCl 2 -increased specific activities of antioxidant enzymes and PAL, and CdCl 2 -decreased activity of GS were reversed by 2-(4-carboxy-2-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide, a NO scavenger, suggesting that protective effect by SNP is attributable to NO released. Reduction of CdCl 2 -induced toxicity by NO in rice leaves is most likely mediated through its ability to scavenge active oxygen species including H 2 O 2 .

ABSTRACT

The fabrication of multidimensional organometallic halide perovskite via a low-pressure vapor-assisted solution process is demonstrated for the first time. Phenyl ethyl-ammonium iodide (PEAI)-doped lead iodide (PbI ) is first spin-coated onto the substrate and subsequently reacts with methyl-ammonium iodide (MAI) vapor in a low-pressure heating oven. The doping ratio of PEAI in MAI-vapor-treated perovskite has significant impact on the crystalline structure, surface morphology, grain size, UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra, and the resultant device performance. Multiple photoluminescence spectra are observed in the perovskite film starting with high PEAI/PbI ratio, which suggests the coexistence of low-dimensional perovskite (PEA MA Pb I ) with various values of n after vapor reaction. The dimensionality of the as-fabricated perovskite film reveals an evolution from 2D, hybrid 2D/3D to 3D structure when the doping level of PEAI/PbI ratio varies from 2 to 0. Scanning electron microscopy images and Kelvin probe force microscopy mapping show that the PEAI-containing perovskite grain is presumably formed around the MAPbI perovskite grain to benefit MAPbI grain growth. The device employing perovskite with PEAI/PbI = 0.05 achieves a champion power conversion efficiency of 19.10% with an open-circuit voltage of 1.08 V, a current density of 21.91 mA cm , and a remarkable fill factor of 80.36%.

Solution‐processed perovskite solar cells have great potential for low‐cost roll‐to‐roll fabrication. However, the degradation of aged precursor solutions will become a critical obstacle to mass production. In this report, a small molecule (ITIC‐Th) is employed to stabilize the perovskite precursor solution containing mixed cations and halides. It is found that ITIC‐Th can effectively suppress the formation of yellow δ‐phase in the films made from aged precursor solutions. Consequently, the devices fabricated from the aged precursor solution with ITIC‐Th experience much less efficiency drop with the increase of the precursor aging time—from 19.20% (fresh) to 16.55% (39 d), compared with the devices made from conventional precursor solutions dropping from 18.07% (fresh) to 1.76% (39 d). The characterizations suggest that ITIC‐Th is beneficial for CH3NH3+ cations to be incorporated into the crystal structure, facilitating the formation of perovskite phase. Furthermore, the presence of ITIC‐Th in the perovskite thin film gives rise to additional photocurrent as well as improved fill factor due to the well‐matched energy levels, the passivation of defects, and the complementary absorption spectra, suggesting a new route toward future high‐efficiency solar cells—incorporating organic non‐fullerene acceptors and halide perovskite materials into the same active layer.

Rice lodging identification relies on manual in situ assessment and often leads to a compensation dispute in agricultural disaster assessment. Therefore, this study proposes a comprehensive and efficient classification technique for agricultural lands that entails using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery. In addition to spectral information, digital surface model (DSM) and texture information of the images was obtained through image-based modeling and texture analysis. Moreover, single feature probability (SFP) values were computed to evaluate the contribution of spectral and spatial hybrid image information to classification accuracy. The SFP results revealed that texture information was beneficial for the classification of rice and water, DSM information was valuable for lodging and tree classification, and the combination of texture and DSM information was helpful in distinguishing between artificial surface and bare land. Furthermore, a decision tree classification model incorporating SFP values yielded optimal results, with an accuracy of 96.17% and a Kappa value of 0.941, compared with that of a maximum likelihood classification model (90.76%). The rice lodging ratio in paddies at the study site was successfully identified, with three paddies being eligible for disaster relief. The study demonstrated that the proposed spatial and spectral hybrid image classification technology is a promising tool for rice lodging assessment.

The production of H 2 O 2 in detached rice leaves of Taichung Native 1 (TN1) caused by CdCl 2 was investigated. CdCl 2 treatment resulted in H 2 O 2 production in detached rice leaves. Diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI) and imidazole (IMD), inhibitors of NADPH oxidase (NOX), prevented CdCl 2 -induced H 2 O 2 production, suggesting that NOX is a H 2 O 2 -genearating enzyme in CdCl 2 -treated detached rice leaves. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors wortmanin (WM) or LY294002 (LY) inhibited CdCl 2 -inducted H 2 O 2 production in detached rice leaves. Exogenous H 2 O 2 reversed the inhibitory effect of WM or LY, suggesting that phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate is required for Cd-induced H 2 O 2 production in detached rice leaves. Nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was also effective in reducing CdCl 2 -inducing accumulation of H 2 O 2 in detached rice leaves. Cd toxicity was judged by the decrease in chlorophyll content. The results indicated that DPI, IMD, WM, LY, and SNP were able to reduce Cd-induced toxicity of detached rice leaves. Twelve-day-old TN1 and Tainung 67 (TNG67) rice seedlings were treated with or without CdCl 2 . In terms of Cd toxicity (leaf chlorosis), it was observed that rice seedlings of cultivar TN1 are Cd-sensitive and those of cultivar TNG67 are Cd-tolerant. On treatment with CdCl 2 , H 2 O 2 accumulated in the leaves of TN1 seedlings but not in the leaves of TNG67. Prior exposure of TN1 seedlings to 45 o C for 3 h resulted in a reduction of H 2 O 2 accumulation, as well as Cd tolerance of TN1 seedlings treated with CdCl 2 . The results strongly suggest that Cd toxicity of detached leaves and leaves attached to rice seedlings are due to H 2 O 2 accumulation.

Reactive oxygen species are thought to play an important role in NaCl stress. Therefore, the expression patterns of the gene family encoding the H(2)O(2)-scavenging enzyme ascorbate peroxidase (APx; EC1.11.1.11) were analysed in roots of etiolated rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings in response to NaCl stress. Applying semi-quantitative RT-PCR, the mRNA levels were quantified for two cytosolic (OsAPx1 and OsAPx2), two peroxisomal (OsAPx3 and OsAPx4), and four chloroplastic (OsAPx5, OsAPx6, OsAPx7, and OsAPx8) isoforms identified in the rice genome. NaCl at 150 mM and 200 mM increased the expression of OsAPx8 and the activities of APx, but had no effect on the expression of OsAPx1, OsAPx2, OsAPx3, OsAPx4, OsAPx5, OsAPx6, and OsAPx7 in rice roots. However, NaCl at 300 mM up-regulated OsAPx8 expression, increased APx activity, and down-regulated OsAPx7 expression, but had no effect on the expression of OsAPx1, OsAPx2, OsAPx3, OsAPx4, OsAPx5, and OsAPx6. The accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) in response to NaCl was observed in rice roots. Exogenously applied ABA also specifically enhanced the expression of OsAPx8 in rice roots. The accumulation of ABA in rice roots in response to NaCl was inhibited by fluridone (Flu), an inhibitor of carotenoid biosynthesis. Flu treatment also suppressed NaCl-enhanced OsAPx8 expression and APx activity. The effect of Flu on the expression of OsAPx8 and increase in APx activity was reversed by the application of ABA. It appears that NaCl-enhanced expression of OsAPx8 in rice roots is mediated through an accumulation of ABA. Evidence is provided to show that Na(+) but not Cl(-) is required for enhancing OsAPx8 expression, APx activity, and ABA accumulation in rice roots treated with NaCl. H(2)O(2) treatment resulted in an enhancement of OsAPx8 induction but no accumulation of ABA. Diphenylene iodonium treatment, which is known to inhibit NaCl-induced accumulation of H(2)O(2) in rice roots, did not suppress OsAPx8 induction and ABA accumulation by NaCl. It appears that H(2)O(2) is not involved in the regulation of NaCl-induced OsAPx8 expression in rice roots.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant progressive neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by a triad of motor, psychiatric and cognitive impairments. There is still no effective therapy to delay or halt the disease progress. The striatum and cortex are two particularly affected brain regions that exhibit dense reciprocal excitatory glutamate and inhibitory gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) connections. Imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory signalling is known to greatly affect motor and cognitive processes. Emerging evidence supports the hypothesis that disrupted GABAergic circuits underlie HD pathogenesis. In the present review, we focused on the multiple defects recently found in the GABAergic inhibitory system, including altered GABA level and synthesis, abnormal subunit composition and distribution of GABAA receptors and aberrant GABAA receptor-mediated signalling. In particular, the important role of cation–chloride cotransporters (i.e. NKCC1 and KCC2) is discussed. Recent studies also suggest that neuroinflammation contributes significantly to the abnormal GABAergic inhibition in HD. Thus, GABAA receptors and cation–chloride cotransporters are potential therapeutic targets for HD. Given the limited availability of therapeutic treatments for HD, a better understanding of GABAergic dysfunction in HD could provide novel therapeutic opportunities.